A “TREMENDOUS” Legacy – Charlie “Tremendous” Jones
If you have never heard of Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, you have missed out. One of the great orators of our our time, Charlie is bigger than life. He shakes you to your core and urges you to be your best, hang out with the best, read the best, and think your best.
He got his nickname “Tremendous!” because that’s how he answers every question. “How’s Your day going, Charlie?” “TREEEEEMENDOUS!” “How are sales going in this crazy economy, Charlie?” “TREEEEMENDOUS!!” “How’s that chemo treating you, Charlie?” “TREEEMENDOUS!”
More than likely, Charlie was the first one to tell the story of two little boys relegated to the barn to shovel manure as a punishment. One boy is resentful and angry, complaining the whole time. The other boy is shoveling hard, whistling happily as he works. The angry boy asks the happy boy how “can you whistle while up to your ankles in manure?” The happy boy replies, “Hey, with all this manure, there’s gotta be a horse in here somewhere!!”
Watching him on stage is a treat for me. I first heard of Charlie from my father – waaaaay back in the 70′s. Charlie was in his late 40′s then. Dapper with a 1920′s style wave in his hair, a sharp bowtie, natty suit, and enough energy to light the city of New York. On stage Charlie doesn’t hold back. He gets right up in your face, he grabs the poor soul in the front row by the shoulder and shakes them.
He’s an old-fashioned guy; still believes in bear hugs. I suppose some younger Gen X’er, not understanding him, might think he touches too much. But that Generation misses the point about guys like Charlie. When you are bursting with that much enthusiasm, love, and genuine JOY, ya just gotta share it. He means no harm at all… he’s just spreading the happiness.
Even though Charlie is an old fashioned guy, he’s still hip. He’s even got a MYSPACE page!! Go there and read about him and send him some love.
Charlie is the one who told me to go be my cowgirl self on stage. He made it OK for me to really be my authentic self up there. To use all my expressiveness, all my energy, and all my humor to connect. I asked him how he keeps up his energy even in the face of the occasional difficult crowd. He said, “Ya just love’em, then [pointing upwards] ya let Him do the talking.” Charlie taught me “you gotta WANT your audience to GET it, to be BETTER…” to come home to themselves. None of that stiff, stand behind the podium and read a speech for us!
Why am I writing this today? Because the docs say in a month I’ll be writing this in the past tense. And I’d rather say it while he’s still hanging around. Now, I know Charlie isn’t afraid of that transition. I’d bet on it he’s excited and curious. And he’s already got his greeting when he walks through those Pearly Gates. God’s going to say, “So Charlie, What did you think of earth?” and Charlie will say, “TREEEEEEMENDOUS!”
Charlie, It has been a pleasure, an honor, and a blessing to know you. Safe Travels, buddy. I’m gonna miss you.
Love, Beth
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Beth Terry, CSP, is a Certified Speaking Professional, Author, and Corporate Trainer. Originally from South Dakota and Preacher’s Kid, she helps her audiences find the resilience that will carry them to success, and beyond to themselves.
© 2008 Beth Terry Seminars, Inc. All international and US Rights Reserved.
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continuous prayers and outpouring of love. They have been a constant source of encouragement and blessings to our family and business during this time. At 4 pm, October 16, 2008, Charles Edward “Tremendous” Jones triumphantly entered the gates of Heaven. With family at his side, we could only imagine the joy that he experienced and who he greeted first!
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing to be held at New Life Baptist Church in New Cumberland, PA on Sunday, October 19, 2008 from 2 – 5 pm. Burial services will be private at the convenience of the family.
A special Homegoing Celebration is tentatively scheduled for Friday evening, November 7, 2008 at the Christian Life Assembly in Camp Hill, PA. Ongoing details on the celebration can be found at TremendousJones.com.
In Christ,
The Jones Family and Executive Books Team
Charlie “Tremendous” Jones
Your tapes, your books, your articles and you have motivated me personally and professionally for years. At the 2000 NSA Convention you one of the very first who congratulated each of us in the new CSP class and I have the great photo of you giving me one of your famous GIANT BEAR HUGS with your GREAT SMILE.
Thank you for being you and giving and sharing so much love always.
Alan
alan@cre8ng.com
Charlie was a TREMENDOUS draw when he spoke at NSA-Arizona. He was as you describe him, Beth, so filled with energy and zeal for life that you were uplifted by being in the same room. I’m glad I had the chance to meet Charlie and hear him speak. Enjoy your next adventure, Charlie!
I never met him, but from your blog and the comments I want to go read more about him. Thanks!
I am in awe of the specialness of Charlie. What a gift to the universe.
Thank you Charlie for who you ARE!
With bountiful admiration,
Ed
What a well-deserved tribute. I’ve known Charlie since 1975, and he’s one of the finest, funniest and wisest men I’ve ever met. He’s had an enormous impact in my life and I’ll always be grateful to God for placing Charlie in my path so many years ago.
What a wonderful testimony to a TREMENDOUS spirit! I wish we could all exclaim, affirm and hug with abandon. Thanks for sharing Charlie’s legacy.
Beth:
I posted 11 short video clips of Charlie that I had the pleasure of taking last November 2007. I had the pleasure of interviewing him in his home and having dinner with this most incredible man.
I posted them to YouTube. If you simply go to YouTube.com and put in Charlie Tremendous, they’ll all come up.
They are ALL worth watching.
Stanley Bronstein
MrAchievement
http://stanleybronstein.com
What a timely tribute to a beautiful soul.